The Buccaneers got off to a strong start at the Invitational, complete with five total top-three finishes including one event winner.

Bucs compete on day one of Hilton Garden Invitational

Friday, January 31, 2014

Katerina Vodova takes first in the women’s pole vault with a launch of 3.80 meters

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Jan. 31, 2014) – The ETSU men’s and women’s track & field teams turned in a productive day one on Friday at the Hilton Garden Invitational inside the JDL Fast Track Indoor Track & Field Facility.

After being off from competition for two weeks, the Buccaneers got off to a strong start at the Invitational, complete with five total top-three finishes including one event winner. Junior Katerina Vodova (Humpolec, Czech Republic) took the top spot in the women’s pole vault with a collegiate-high launch of 3.80 meters. Also in the women’s vault, Ashley Kessler (Knoxville, Tenn.) took second with a mark of 3.50 meters.

Continuing ETSU’s recent success in distance events, Katie Hirko (Oley, Pa.) raced to second place with a time of 10:04.39 in the women’s 3000 meter run. On the men’s side in the 800 meter run, Filip Jalovy (Modrice, Czech Republic) earned runner-up with a time of 1:54.97, while Thomas Miller (Lithonia, Ga.) trailed Jalovy in third with a collegiate-best 1:55.20 time in the event.

In the men’s heptathlon 60 meter dash, Stephond Allmond (Memphis, Tenn.) raced to fourth place with a time of 7.39; while in the field, Lexie Burley (Johnson City, Tenn.) leapt to a mark of 11.89 meters in the women’s triple jump.

In preliminary action, Dede Edgecombe (Spartanburg, S.C.) placed fourth in the women’s 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.75, while Matt Moore (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) tallied a 14th-place finish with a 6.96 time in the men’s 60 meter dash. Keturah Williams (Alpharetta, Ga.) placed 29th in the women’s 60 meter dash with a time of 7.88. Each student-athlete advanced to tomorrow’s event finals.

Action at the Invitational will pick back up on Saturday with the men’s and women’s weight throw at 9 a.m. with competition ending later with the men’s 4x400 meter relay launching at 4:40 p.m.

Meet information and performance lists for the Hilton Garden Invitational can be accessed by visiting JDLFastTrack.com. Live results can be viewed at TimingInc.com. Complete recaps of ETSU’s performances each day will be available at ETSUBucs.com.

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